The Cadillac Formula 1 Team has announced that it has hired IndyCar star Colton Herta to a test driver role for the 2026 season.
Herta, who finished seventh in the NTT IndyCar Series championship this year while driving for Andretti Global, will leave the American series to pursue a career in F1.
Despite seven full years in IndyCar, the 25-year-old has not acquired enough Superlicense points to compete full-time in F1 for the 2026 season.
It is expected that he will compete in the European market to help facilitate his advancement into F1.
He could race for a year in Formula 2 and possibly complete some FP1 sessions next season, though those details have yet to be announced.
“This is a dream opportunity, and one I’ve been working towards for a long time,” said Herta in a statement.
“To be part of Cadillac F1’s entry at such a pivotal time in something I couldn’t pass up.
“My dream has always been to race in Formula 1, and I see this move as a huge step towards that goal. For now, my focus is on giving everything I can to Cadillac F1, helping build a competitive team.”
New team on the world stage
The Cadillac F1 Team is joining the global series next year as a new entrant, and is linked heavily with the same ownership group as Andretti Global.
That connection surely helped boost Herta into his new role as test driver, and the goal is to have an American driver in the series as soon as possible.
For Cadillac’s first season, it will place F1 veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez behind the wheel, both of whom will be able to help get Herta up to speed quickly.
Graeme Lowdon, Cadillac Team Principal, added: “Colton is an exceptionally talented racer with proven speed, race craft, and maturity well beyond his years.
“His experience in top-level American motorsport as part of the TWG Motorsport family makes him an ideal fit for this role, and he will bring valuable and fresh insight, perspective, and energy to our team as we continue to build for the future.”
For now, Herta’s IndyCar career concludes with him winning nine races and 16 pole awards across seven full seasons and 116 race starts.
He also still holds the record for the youngest IndyCar winner with his triumph at Circuit of the Americas in his third ever IndyCar race in 2019.
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